U.S. patent number 10,349,742 [Application Number 15/921,837] was granted by the patent office on 2019-07-16 for slide rail assembly and slide rail mechanism thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to King Slide Technology Co., Ltd., King Slide Works Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is King Slide Technology Co., Ltd., King Slide Works Co, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ken-Ching Chen, Yao-Tsung Chen, Chien-Li Huang, Chun-Chiang Wang, Shun-Ho Yang.
United States Patent |
10,349,742 |
Chen , et al. |
July 16, 2019 |
Slide rail assembly and slide rail mechanism thereof
Abstract
A slide rail mechanism includes a slide rail and a reinforcing
structure. The slide rail includes a first section and a second
section. The second section is bent relative to the first section.
The reinforcing structure is arranged at the slide rail. The
reinforcing structure includes a first part and a second part. The
second part is bent relative to the first part. The first part and
the second part are respectively attached to the first section and
the second section.
Inventors: |
Chen; Ken-Ching (Kaohsiung,
TW), Yang; Shun-Ho (Kaohsiung, TW), Chen;
Yao-Tsung (Kaohsiung, TW), Huang; Chien-Li
(Kaohsiung, TW), Wang; Chun-Chiang (Kaohsiung,
TW) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
King Slide Works Co, Ltd.
King Slide Technology Co., Ltd. |
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung |
N/A
N/A |
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
(Kaohsiung, TW)
King Slide Technology Co., Ltd. (Kaohsiung,
TW)
|
Family
ID: |
61912997 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/921,837 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20190059585 A1 |
Feb 28, 2019 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 31, 2017 [TW] |
|
|
106130066 A |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K
7/183 (20130101); A47B 96/06 (20130101); A47B
88/407 (20170101); A47B 88/43 (20170101); A47B
88/427 (20170101); H02B 1/36 (20130101); A47B
57/38 (20130101); H05K 7/1489 (20130101); A47B
96/07 (20130101); F16M 13/022 (20130101); A47B
2088/4278 (20170101); E05C 3/14 (20130101); A47B
57/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
88/43 (20170101); A47B 57/34 (20060101); H02B
1/36 (20060101); A47B 96/06 (20060101); A47B
88/42 (20170101); A47B 88/40 (20170101); H05K
7/18 (20060101); H05K 7/14 (20060101); A47B
96/07 (20060101); A47B 57/38 (20060101); E05C
3/14 (20060101); A47B 88/427 (20170101); A47B
88/407 (20170101); F16M 13/02 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Roersma; Andrew M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kamrath; Alan D. Mayer &
Williams PC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A slide rail assembly, comprising: a first rail having a
passage; a second rail movable relative to the first rail, the
second rail comprising a first section and a second section, the
second section being connected to the first section through a
bending section and bent relative to the first section, wherein the
first section is mounted into the passage, and the second section
is located outside the passage; and a reinforcing structure
arranged on the second rail, the reinforcing structure comprising a
first part and a second part, the second part being connected to
the first part through a bending part and bent relative to the
first part; wherein the first part, the bending part and the second
part are respectively attached to the first section, the bending
section and the second section; wherein the reinforcing structure
is an additional component connected to the second rail, the second
part of the reinforcing structure comprises an opening aligned and
communicated with an opening of the second section of the second
rail, and the second part of the reinforcing structure further
comprises at least one connecting feature configured to fix the
second part of the reinforcing structure onto the second section of
the second rail.
2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the first part and
the second part are attached to a portion of the first section and
a portion of the second section respectively.
3. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, further comprising an
engaging mechanism and a bracket device, wherein the engaging
mechanism is arranged on the second section of the second rail, the
engaging mechanism comprises an engaging member, the bracket device
is arranged on the first rail, the bracket device comprises a side
wall, an end wall and a mounting member, the end wall is bent
relative to the side wall, the mounting member is arranged on the
end wall, a mounting feature is arranged adjacent to the end wall
and configured to be engaged with the engaging member, the engaging
member of the engaging mechanism is configured to pass through the
opening of the second section of the second rail and the opening of
the reinforcing structure to be engaged with the mounting
feature.
4. The slide rail assembly of claim 3, wherein the engaging
mechanism further comprises an operating member configured to be
operated to disengage the engaging member from the mounting
feature.
5. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the second rail has
an inner side and an outer side, and the reinforcing structure is
attached to one of the inner side and the outer side of the second
rail.
6. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the second section
is substantially perpendicularly connected to the first section,
and the second part is substantially perpendicularly connected to
the first part.
7. A slide rail mechanism, comprising: a slide rail comprising a
first section and a second section, the second section being bent
relative to the first section; and a reinforcing structure arranged
on the slide rail, the reinforcing structure comprising a first
part and a second part; wherein the first part and the second part
are respectively attached to the first section and the second
section; wherein the reinforcing structure is an additional
component connected to the slide rail, the second part of the
reinforcing structure comprises an opening aligned and communicated
with an opening of the second section of the slide rail, and the
second part of the reinforcing structure further comprises at least
one connecting feature configured to fix the second part of the
reinforcing structure onto the second section of the slide
rail.
8. The slide rail mechanism of claim 7, wherein the second section
is substantially perpendicularly connected to the first section,
and the second part is substantially perpendicularly connected to
the first part.
9. The slide rail mechanism of claim 7, wherein the first part and
the second part are attached to a portion of the first section and
a portion of the second section respectively.
10. The slide rail mechanism of claim 7, wherein the at least one
connecting feature is a hook.
11. The slide rail mechanism of claim 7, wherein the slide rail has
an inner side and an outer side, and the reinforcing structure is
attached to one of the inner side and the outer side of the slide
rail.
12. A slide rail mechanism, comprising: a slide rail comprising a
first section and a second section, the second section being bent
relative to the first section; and a reinforcing structure
comprising a first part and a second part; wherein the first part
and the second part are respectively attached to the first section
and the second section, and the first part is fixed to the first
section; wherein the reinforcing structure is an additional
component connected to the slide rail, the second part of the
reinforcing structure comprises an opening aligned and communicated
with an opening of the second section of the slide rail, and the
second part of the reinforcing structure further comprises at least
one connecting feature configured to fix the second part of the
reinforcing structure onto the second section of the slide
rail.
13. The slide rail mechanism of claim 12, wherein the slide rail
has an inner side and an outer side, and the reinforcing structure
is attached to one of the inner side and the outer side of the
slide rail.
14. The slide rail mechanism of claim 12, wherein the second
section is substantially perpendicularly connected to the first
section, and the second part is substantially perpendicularly
connected to the first part.
15. The slide rail mechanism of claim 12, wherein the at least one
connecting feature is a hook.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slide rail, and more
particularly, to a reinforced slide rail of a slide rail assembly
or a slide rail mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,884 B2 discloses a latch assembly for a track
device which mainly includes a first track member (11) and a second
track member (12). The latch assembly comprises a latch handle (21)
mounted to the first track member (11), and a latch seat (23)
provided on the second track member (12). A latching portion (211)
of the latching handle (21) is releasably engaged with the latch
seat (23), such that the first track member (11) is locked and not
movable relative to the second track member (12) when the first
track member (11) is retracted, in order to fix a drawer (2)
relative to a wall (1). Moreover, a user can disengage the latching
handle (21) from the latch seat (23) if necessary.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 9,370,120 B2 discloses a slide assembly
(12). The slide assembly comprises a bracket (28) and an engaging
member (58). Wherein, the slide assembly is mounted to posts (13,
14) of a rack (10) through two brackets (28, 30). Wherein, the
engaging member (58) has a fastening portion (64). When a chassis
(74) is moved to a retracted position through the slide assembly, a
hook portion (84) on the chassis (74) can be engaged with the
fastening portion (64), so as to lock the chassis (74) at the
retracted position. The aforementioned two cases are provided for
reference.
However, for different mounting environments or shapes of carried
objects, the slide rail must have a specific structure to meet the
requirements. Therefore, the slide rail may not have sufficient
strength to support an overweight carried object, such that the
slide rail can be easily deformed due to unintentional collision,
an external force or the weight of the carried object. Therefore,
it is important to improve structural strength of the slide
rail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a slide rail assembly or a slide
rail mechanism with a reinforced slide rail structure.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail
assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail and a reinforcing
structure. The first rail has a passage. The second rail is movable
relative to the first rail. The second rail comprises a first
section and a second section. The second section is connected to
the first section through a bending section and bent relative to
the first section. Wherein, the first section is mounted into the
passage, and the second section is located outside the passage. The
reinforcing structure is arranged on the second rail. The
reinforcing structure comprises a first part and a second part. The
second part is connected to the first part through a bending part
and bent relative to the first part. Wherein, the first part, the
bending part and the second part are respectively attached to the
first section, the bending section and the second section.
Preferably, the first part and the second part are attached to a
portion of the first section and a portion of the second section
respectively.
Preferably, the reinforcing structure is an additional component
connected to the second rail.
Preferably, the first part, the bending part and the second part
are integrally formed with the second rail and protruded from the
second rail.
Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises an engaging
mechanism and a bracket device. The engaging mechanism is arranged
on the second section of the second rail. The engaging mechanism
comprises an engaging member. The bracket device is arranged on the
first rail. The bracket device comprises a side wall, an end wall
and a mounting member. The end wall is bent relative to the side
wall. The mounting member is arranged on the end wall. A mounting
feature is arranged adjacent to the end wall and configured to be
engaged with the engaging member.
Preferably, the engaging mechanism further comprises an operating
member configured to be operated to disengage the engaging member
from the mounting feature.
Preferably, the second rail has an inner side and an outer side.
The reinforcing structure is attached to one of the inner side and
the outer side of the second rail.
Preferably, the second section is substantially perpendicularly
connected to the first section. The second part is substantially
perpendicularly connected to the first part.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide
rail mechanism comprises a slide rail and a reinforcing structure.
The slide rail comprises a first section and a second section. The
second section is bent relative to the first section. The
reinforcing structure is arranged on the slide rail. The
reinforcing structure comprises a first part and a second part.
Wherein, the first part and the second part are respectively
attached to the first section and the second section.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide
rail mechanism comprises a slide rail and a reinforcing structure.
The slide rail comprises a first section and a second section. The
second section is bent relative to the first section. The
reinforcing structure comprises a first part and a second part.
Wherein, the first part and the second part are respectively
attached to the first section and the second section, and the first
part is fixed to the first section.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt
become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that
is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a rack system of the present invention
mounted with a carried object through a slide rail assembly located
at a retracted position;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the rack system of the present
invention mounted with the carried object through the slide rail
assembly located at an extension position;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an area A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly of the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the slide rail assembly of the
present invention;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the slide rail assembly and a
reinforcing structure according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 7 is a partial view of a slide rail mechanism according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the slide rail mechanism according to
the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a partial view of a slide rail mechanism according to a
second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a partial view of a slide rail mechanism according to a
third embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the slide rail mechanism according to
the third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in a rack system 20, two sides of a
carried object 22 can be mounted to a rack 26 through a pair of
slide rail assemblies 24. Wherein, the carried object 22 can be an
electronic device or a chassis. The rack 26 comprises a plurality
of posts, such as a pair of first posts 26a and a pair of second
posts 26b. Each of the slide rail assemblies 24 can be mounted to
the rack 26 through a first bracket device 28 and a second bracket
device 30.
The slide rail assembly 24 comprises a first rail 32 and a second
rail 34. Wherein, an end of the first rail 32 (such as a front end)
is arranged with the first bracket device 28. The other end of the
first rail 32 (such as a rear end) is arranged with the second
bracket device 30. The second bracket device 30 can be adjusted to
move relative to the first rail 32. The first bracket device 28 and
the second bracket device 30 are configured to mount the first rail
32 to the first posts 26a and the second posts 26b respectively. On
the other hand, the second rail 34 is longitudinally movable
relative to the first rail 32 and configured to mount the carried
object 22, such that the carried object 22 can be moved with the
second rail 34 from a retracted position R (as shown in FIG. 1) to
an extension position E (as shown in FIG. 2) along a direction D,
or can be moved back to the retracted position R from the extension
position E.
Preferably, the first bracket device 28 comprises a mounting
feature 36 (please also refer to FIG. 3), and the slide rail
assembly 24 further comprises an engaging mechanism 38 arranged on
the second rail 34. Wherein, when the second rail 34 is located at
the retracted position R, the engaging mechanism 38 is engaged with
the mounting feature 36, such that the second rail 34 and the
carried object 22 can be held at the retracted position R. Or, when
the engaging mechanism 33 is disengaged from the mounting feature
36, the second rail 34 can be moved away from the retracted
position R.
As shown in FIG. 4, the first rail 32 has a passage 40.
Specifically, the first rail 32 comprises a first wall 42a, a
second wall 42b and a longitudinal wail 44 connected between the
first wall 42a and the second wall 42b. The passage 40 is defined
by the first wall 42a, the second wall 42b and the longitudinal
wall 44. Preferably, the first bracket device 28 is arranged at the
front end of the first rail 32, and comprises a side wail 46, an
end wall 48 and at least one mounting member 50 (FIG. 4 only shows
one mounting member 50 due to the viewing angle). The side wail 46
is connected to the first rail 32. The end wall 48 is bent relative
to the side wall 46. The at least one mounting member 50 is
arranged on the end wall 48. Wherein, the mounting feature 36 is in
front of the end wall 48 (please also refer to FIG. 5).
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the second rail 34 comprises a first
section 52 and a second section 54. The second section 54 is bent
relative to the first section 52. In the present embodiment, the
second section 54 is connected to the first section 52 through a
bending section 56 (please also refer to FIG. 6) and bent relative
to the first section 52. The second section 54 is substantially
perpendicularly connected to the first section 52. The first
section 52 is mounted into the passage 40 of the first rail 32, and
the second section 54 is located outside the passage 40.
Preferably, the engaging mechanism 38 is arranged on the second
section 54 of the second rail 34. The engaging mechanism 38
comprises an engaging member 58 and an operating member 60. The
engaging member 58 is configured to be engaged with the mounting
feature 36 (such as an inner wall of a hole) of the first bracket
device 28. The operating member 60 is configured to be operated to
drive the engaging member 58 to move, in order to disengage the
engaging member 58 from the mounting feature 36. For example, when
the engaging member 58 is engaged with the mounting feature 36, a
user can press the operating member 60 to drive the
elastically-loaded engaging member 58, in order to disengage the
engaging member 58 from the mounting feature 36. Preferably, the
second section 54 has an opening H, such that the engaging member
58 of the engaging mechanism 38 can pass through the opening H to
be engaged with the mounting feature 36.
Furthermore, the slide rail assembly 24 further comprises a
reinforcing structure 62 arranged on the second rail 34. The
reinforcing structure 62 comprises a first part 64 and a second
part 66. The second part 66 is bent relative to the first part 64.
In the present embodiment, the second part 66 is connected to the
first part 64 through a bending part 68 and bent relative to the
first part 64. The second part 66 is substantially perpendicularly
connected to the first part 64. The first part 64, the bending part
68 and the second part 66 are respectively attached to the first
section 52, the bending section 56 and the second section 54
(please also refer to FIG. 6).
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the second rail 34 and the
reinforcing structure 62 can be seen as a slide rail mechanism 100.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the reinforcing structure 62
is located adjacent to a front part 52a of the first section 52 of
the second rail 34. The reinforcing structure 62 is configured to
improve structure strength of the first section 52, the bending
section 56 and the second section 54 of the second rail 34.
The reinforcing structure 62 is fixedly arranged at one of an inner
side S1 and an outer side S2 of the second rail 34. In the present
embodiment, the reinforcing structure 62 is arranged at the inner
side S1 of the second rail 34. The first part 64 and the second
part 66 of the reinforcing structure 62 are respectively attached
to the first section 52 and the second section 54 of the second
rail 34 partially. For example, the first part 64 is only attached
to a portion of the first section 52, and the second part 66 is
only attached to a portion of the second section 54. In addition,
the bending part 68 of the reinforcing structure 62 is attached to
the bending section 56 of the second rail 34. In the present
embodiment, the reinforcing structure 62 is an additional component
connected to the second rail 34.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a slide rail mechanism 200 according to
a second embodiment of the present invention. Different from the
slide rail mechanism 100 of the first embodiment, a second part 206
of a reinforcing structure 202 of the slide rail mechanism 200 has
an opening 207 communicated with an opening H of a second section
210 of a second rail 208, such that the engaging member 58 of the
engaging mechanism 38 can pass through the openings H, 207 to be
engaged with the mounting feature 36. In addition, the second part
206 of the reinforcing structure 202 comprises at least one
connecting feature 212 connected to the second rail 208. The at
least one connecting feature 212, such as a pair of hooks, is
configured to hook or hold the second section 210 of the second
rail 208, so as to improve structural strength and stability of
connection between the reinforcing structure 202 and the second
section 210 of the second rail 208.
FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are diagrams showing a slide rail mechanism 300
according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Different
from the slide rail mechanism 100 of the first embodiment, a first
part 304, a bending part 306 and a second part 308 of a reinforcing
structure 302 of the slide rail mechanism 300 are integrally formed
with the second rail 310 and protruded from the second rail 310 as
ribs or protrusions. As such, the slide rail mechanism 300 can also
improve structural strength of the second rail 310.
Therefore, the slide rail assembly and the slide rail mechanism of
the present invention are characterized in that: 1. The second rail
comprises the first section and the second section, and the second
section is bent relative to the first section. The reinforcing
structure is arranged on the second rail. The reinforcing structure
comprises the first part and the second part. The second part is
bent relative to the first part. Wherein, the first part and the
second part are respectively attached to the first section and the
second section, in order to improve the structural strength of the
first section and the second section of the second rail. 2. The
second part of the reinforcing structure comprises at least one
connecting feature configured to hook or hold the second section of
the second rail, so as to improve structural strength and stability
of connection between the reinforcing structure and the second
section of the second rail. 3. One of the first rail and the second
rail is arranged with the engaging mechanism, and the other one of
the first rail and the second rail is arranged with the bracket
device. Wherein, the bracket device has the mounting feature
configured to be engaged with the engaging member, so as to hold
the second rail at the retracted position relative to the first
rail.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *